Phil Hayton

Phil Hayton

Hardware Editor

I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.

Latest articles by Phil Hayton

Verbatim portable monitor with Overwatch 2 character select screen on display next to two Squishmallow frogs
The best portable monitors for gaming 2026

By Phil Hayton Last updated

Buying Guide We're running down the top contenders for best portable monitor across the price and quality spectrums.

Buying Guide
4K Analogue 3D screenshot of Mario in Super Mario 64 with BVM CRT effect.
The Analogue 3D feature I've been waiting for slipped right under my nose, but I can finally start my N64 scrapbook

By Phil Hayton Published

News The new Analogue 3D Version 1.4.0 update finally brings screenshot functionality to the 4K N64, allowing you to snap, tweak, and export your favorite frames.

News
Close up of Lenovo Legion Go S handheld on woodgraind desk.
Lenovo's Legion C700 cloud handheld feels like the wrong response to a worsening handheld price situation

By Phil Hayton Published

News Lenovo is teasing a C700 cloud handheld, and I'm worried it'll spark another wave of streaming handhelds in response to the current price situation.

News
Phil Hayton using Steam Deck OLED to play Dishonored.
Best gaming handheld 2026: portable consoles and PCs I'd take on the go

By Phil Hayton Last updated

Buying Guide Here are the best gaming handheld options in 2026, including the Nintendo Switch 2, portable PCs like the Steam Deck OLED, and various other great devices.

Buying Guide
Split image with hand holding Steam Controller on left and Openpuck DIY controller puck on right with USB connected.
You can now use the Steam Controller with your PS5, Xbox, and Switch thanks to an open-source puck

By Phil Hayton Published

News OpenPuck is an open-source receiver for the Steam Controller that lets it connect to your PS5, Xbox, and Switch as well as your PC and Steam Machine.

News
Hand pointing at custom DOOM cartridge inserted into Casio Loopy console.
The last retro console I'd expect to run DOOM is the girly pop Casio Loopy, and yet, it can now run DOOM

By Phil Hayton Published

News The Casio Loopy just joined the "can it run DOOM?" party, as a developer has whipped up a port that can even use the oddball system's built-in sticker printer.

News
Steam Machine with full red LED light and SteamOS space theme in backdrop.
Valve is switching up its Steam Machine error codes to be more helpful, starting with its scary red overheating light

By Phil Hayton Published

News Valve says a Steam Machine LED error code fix is on the way that will adjust the full red bar to kick in only once temperatures hit 100°C.

News
Super Pocket Capcom Edition on woodgrain desk surrounded by Evercade cartirdges.
Blaze's affordable Super Pocket handheld has been hit with a price hike due to AI component demand

By Phil Hayton Published

News Blaze has announced a price hike for its Super Pocket handheld and Evercade cartridges in the UK and Europe, and AI demand for memory and storage is to blame.

News
Close up of transparent orange Game Boy Advance with backlit screen and Phantasy Star start screen displayed.
"This time, we pay tribute to a true icon" - Ayaneo teases the OG Game Boy Advance remake I've been waiting for

By Phil Hayton Published

News Ayaneo has announced it's working on a Konkr Pocket Advance handheld that could pay tribute to the original Nintendo Game Boy Advance.

News
Nintendo Switch 2 sitting in dock with LG OLED TV in backdrop and Mario Kart World gameplay on screen featuring Cow in cloud car.
Nintendo is hunting for a Switch 2 engineer who could help bring VRR to TV mode and next-gen consoles

By Phil Hayton Published

News Nintendo is searching for a Switch 2 display engineer, and the job description suggests it could be planning to add VRR support to TV mode.

News
Jsaux Steam Machine faceplate with small color e-ink display on left and dial on right with black, grey, and red buttons under screen.
Jsaux doubles down on its Steam Machine e-ink faceplate plans

By Phil Hayton Published

News Jsaux says it's Steam Machine e-ink faceplay is still happening, and it'll be accompanied by a dot matrix panel and a color e-ink plate with Hi-Fi vibes.

News
Split photos of green and orange Game Boy attached to 60-inch telescope on left and Jupiter displayed on screen on right.
Turns out you can strap the Game Boy Camera to a massive telescope and take photos of Jupiter

By Phil Hayton Published

News If you're committed, you can strap the Game Boy Camera to a 60-inch telescope and take a photo of Jupiter, and the results are better than you'd think.

News
Two curved ultrawide 34-inch Alienware monitors in back of 32-inch curved monitor with blue desert backdrop.
Alienware is celebrating its 30th anniversary with three new monitors

By Phil Hayton Published

News Three new Alienware monitors announced at Computex have landed in line with the brand's 30th anniversary.

News
"New" GUSGU H7 handheld in black with sad face over screen.
Lenovo just nuked its retro handheld that sellers packed with illegal ROMs

By Phil Hayton Published

News The Lenovo G02 retro handheld and variants have been removed from AliExpress, but new versions without links to the brand are crawling from the grave.

News
Conceptual ASRock Taichi 10th anniversary RX 9070 XT graphics card with mirrored gold backdrop.
ASRock showed off a Taichi 10th Anniversary RX 9070 XT GPU that is seemingly just a concept

By Phil Hayton Published

News It turns out the ASRock Taichi 10th Anniversary RX 9070 XT and components shown at Computex as just concepts and will not go on sale.

News
Back view of Steam Machine with Valve logo on fan and ports at bottom with SteamOS dot wallpaper in backdrop.
No, you can't build your own Steam Machine, but you can cry trying

By Phil Hayton Published

News Building your own Steam Machine might sound like a bright idea, but in reality, it's nearly impossible to copy Valve's cube in terms of size and specs.

News
Back view of Steam Machine with Valve logo on fan grill and Windows 11 default ripple wallpaper in backdrop.
If you're a sicko, you can now run Windows on the Steam Machine

By Phil Hayton Published

News Valve has released Steam Machine Windows 11 drivers for graphics, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and SD card slot, but you'll need to wait longer for SteamOS dual-booting.

News
Super Pocket Activision Edition with River Raid on screen and game screenshots in backdrop.
The next Super Pocket is hoarding classic capers that are missing from the Atari version

By Phil Hayton Published

News Blaze just unveiled a new Activision Super Pocket handheld with 34 licensed favorites like Pitfall and River Raid, but it also boasts a bunch of Imagic classics.

News
Sega Dreamcvast keychain set with VMU, Sega logo, Dreamcast console, and controller on orange backdrop.
AI seems to be turning Sega Dreamcast keychains into slop, but the final product could be safe

By Phil Hayton Published

News Sega seems to have used AI to make Dreamcast keychain promotional images, and it has ruined everything from the console's logo to its iconic controller buttons.

News
Steam Machine with green lightbar and artwork grid in backdrop.
Steam Machine with dreaded "Red Line of Death" has healed itself after a good nights' rest

By Phil Hayton Published

News Turns out the Steam Machine with a "Red Line of Death" isn't doomed after all, as it is now working again after being powered off for 24 hours.

News
Commodore Callback 8020 flip-phone in transparent blue with promotional image of people at celebration party with cake and sparkler on right hand side.
Sorry, C64 Ultimate, Commodore says its dumbphone is the "biggest moment in Commodore's modern history"

By Phil Hayton Published

News Commodore says its upcoming Callback 8020 "dumbphone" has "matched the first month's sales of the Commodore 64 Ultimate".

News
Steam Controller from 2015 with blue backdrop.
Yet another old Steam Controller prototype just popped up at Goodwill

By Phil Hayton Published

News Another Steam Controller prototype based on Valve's original 2015 design has been found at a Goodwill in Seattle.

News
Hand holding PS5 DualSense in front of original PS2 connected to Sony PVM CRT TV on right with 8Bitdo Retro Receiver connected and Silent Hill 2 gameplay on screen.
How to use new controllers with retro consoles

By Phil Hayton Published

Guide Here's how to use new controllers with your retro consoles, including pairing your DualSense or Xbox gamepad to vintage systems and using new 2.4GHz remakes

Guide
LG OLED C6 TV on left and Samsung Mini LED overlapping on right with purple backdrop.
These 4th of July deals could save you from squinting at the World Cup on a tiny, dull screen

By Phil Hayton Published

Deals The 4th of July sales have some excellent TV deals for those of you looking to grab a punchy new panel in time for the World Cup final on July 19.

Deals
Front view of PlayStation PUGA PS1 plug-and-play controller console.
Sony almost released a battery-powered PS1 inside a DualShock controller

By Phil Hayton Published

News Legendary game developer Brian 'Biscuit' Watson says he worked on a PS1 plug-and-play console built into a DualShock controller, but it was ultimately canceled.

News
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